H.S. ice hockey: Gap shrinking between Don Bosco and Delbarton

RANDOLPH – The effort was there. Opportunity made plenty of appearances, too. The only thing missing for the Don Bosco hockey team Tuesday afternoon – aside from two of its best players – was a desirable outcome.

The Ironmen fought to the final seconds before finally succumbing, 2-1, to Delbarton, the best team in New Jersey.

No Don Bosco player on this roster has ever beaten the Green Wave, yet there was no frustration as the Ironmen skated to their locker room. No baffled faces as they left Aspen Ice Arena.

In late January, there are more important things than wins and losses.

"It bothers us that we lost," Don Bosco coach Greg Toskos said. "But we’re thrilled with the effort. … There’s no medals being handed out today after Game 18. You’ve got to get to the playoffs and go from there."

Don Bosco is confident it can compete with any team next month, when the Gordon Conference and state playoffs begin. Tuesday, despite the result, only enhanced that feeling. That’s why effort outweighed outcome.

Playing without their top scorer, junior forward Robby Marsanico (out for about a week with a groin injury), and starting right wing Dylan Healey (out indefinitely after shoulder surgery), the Ironmen made it a difficult day for the Green Wave.

After Delbarton took the lead early in the second period, Cody Calcagno tied it at 1 with a howitzer of a one-timer slap shot from a few steps inside the blue line. When Delbarton retook the lead early in the third period, the Ironmen fought to the end, generating scoring opportunities until the final moments.

All the while, goaltender Jarred Liscio made a flurry of clutch saves to keep the Ironmen in the game.

"The outcome wasn’t what we wanted," Liscio said. "But we played them close without two of our best players. A couple of bounces and it could have turned out differently."

But it didn’t. Somehow, the Green Wave found a way again. This was Delbarton’s 60th consecutive game without losing to New Jersey competition – a stretch lasting nearly three years.

But while Delbarton is winning, its not happening with the dominance that’s been its trademark for much of the last decade. Don Bosco has played Delbarton close in every game the last two seasons. Elite competition is routine on the Ironmen schedule.

"With our guys, there’s no Delbarton mystique," Toskos said. "With the schedule we play ... there’s no fearing any opponent for our guys at all. We respect our opponent, but we don’t fear them."